SHIPSHAPE play equipment is being enjoyed by pupils at Mawnan Primary School thanks to the completion of a £25,000 project.

A nautical theme has been continued with the newly-built play area, to fit in with the wooden boat that was already in the playground.

With squeals of excitement the playground was officially opened yesterday morning (Tuesday, January 16), with class three pupils selected at random to be the lucky ones to try out the equipment first.

Randall Brook, head teacher, said he was "very pleased" with the equipment, adding: "We're very pleased with the outcome. We did have a bit of play equipment before but it was beginning to rot under the ground, so we had to do something with it. It cost in the region of £25,000."

A large part of the project was funded through Creative Partnerships, with the help of Dax Ansell. Other money was donated by the Parent Teacher Association and members of the community - in particular the Red Lion pub in Mawnan Smith square, who were sponsors.

All the fundraisers were thanked for their help, along with Tim Lugg, Tony Lugg and John Tremaine for preparing the ground.

However, the main thanks was reserved for Reece Ingram, who designed and built the playground. He was presented with a gift and will be further thanked by pupils on the completion of a mystery project.

Attending the opening was Julian Pykett, director of the Truro Diocesan Board of Education. He said: "It's really nice to be here. It's lovely to come and do this today and to open this lovely adventure playground. It's absolutely wonderful."